Dallas Cowboys franchise tagging Dak Prescott would be a critical mistake
Dak Prescott needs a new contract, but all signs point to the Dallas Cowboys franchise tagging the signal-caller. But that would be a crucial mistake.
Free-agent quarterbacks are the hot topic of the 2020 NFL offseason. You’ll hear talk of Tom Brady, the six-time Super Bowl champion who could potentially leave Foxborough. You’ll hear debates about young guys with potential like Teddy Bridgewater and Jameis Winston, who are hoping to get a fresh start elsewhere and resurrect their careers. You’ll even hear a discussion about Philip Rivers, the savvy veteran who will leave Los Angeles to compete for a title in the twilight of his career.
Yet, the best free-agent quarterback isn’t making headlines; Dak Prescott, who has played out his rookie deal with the Dallas Cowboys, is slated to become a free agent at the end of March.
However, it is all but certain that the Cowboys will place the franchise tag on the young signal-caller and prevent him from hitting the open market. After a year of posturing regarding a potential new deal, both sides have come to a stalemate regarding what Prescott should be worth.
Rumors have been floated around that the Cowboys’ best offer has been $30 million per year, which would rank Prescott seventh among quarterbacks in average annual salary. Prescott, on the other hand, understands the scarcity of talented, young quarterbacks on the open market and is supposedly commanding $40 million per year.
As with most contract rumors, you are told what the other side wants you to hear. If the Cowboys are saying they offered Prescott $33 million per year, it likely came with minimal guarantees or on a short-term deal. If you hear Prescott is commanding $40 million, it is likely an overblown estimate used by an agent as a negotiating tactic to come to a higher compromise.
Nothing is as it seems with contract negotiations. However, all of this posturing has seemingly led to the inevitable conclusion that the Cowboys will place the franchise tag on Prescott and push the ultimate decision down the road.
While I believe it is wise for the Cowboys to buy some time to negotiate with Prescott in order to keep him in Dallas, it could be a crucial mistake to allow Prescott to play under the franchise tender and fail to agree to a long-term contract extension with their signal-caller.